Accused arsonist deemed mentally fit for court

Alex Hayes made brief appearance Friday

A 31-year-old St. John’s man accused of deliberately setting a series of fires in the city has been found mentally fit to face the criminal charges against him.

Alex Hayes made his first appearance in provincial court Thursday, Jan. 26, when he was sent for an overnight psychiatric assessment. He was deemed fit for trial and returned to court briefly Friday afternoon, where a bail hearing was scheduled for Monday, Jan. 30.

The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary arrested Hayes Thursday morning and charged him with three counts each of arson and break and entry in connection with three recent fires, including one at a municipal heritage building on Bonaventure Avenue near The Rooms Wednesday evening.

Investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set and established a connection to two similar incidents in St. John’s on Jan. 19. The first occurred shortly after 1 p.m., sending police and St. John’s Regional Fire Department firefighters to a burning residential shed on Empire Avenue between Rennies Mill Road and Kings Bridge Road. Witnesses described a man running from the scene.

About an hour later, police and firefighters responded to a second residential shed fire in the same area, and witnesses gave a similar description of the suspect.

The RNC circulated a CCTV image of the man publicly and received information that led to Hayes’ identification and arrest.

No charges have yet been laid related to a fire at a sports facility in King George V park on The Boulevard around 5 p.m. on Jan. 14, that caused damage to the exterior of the building.

Police say the investigation into the fires is ongoing.